Viva Sea Urchins

How long can a sea urchin live?

02-01-2004
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Roger Di Silvestro

THE RED SEA URCHIN may look like a lumpy rock covered with spikes, but it’s built to last. "No animal lives forever, but these red sea urchins appear to be practically immortal," says Thomas Ebert, an Oregon State University biologist who has been studying the animal. His research indicates that red sea urchins, found in Pacific coastal waters from Alaska to Mexico, may exceed 200 years with few signs of age or poor health. In fact, older urchins appear to produce the most offspring.